PM TO OFFICIATE AT LEASE SECURITY BONUS PAYMENT IN LAUTOKA TODAY

The Pine Group of Companies has restricted today’s attendance of the distribution of Land Security Bonus Payments (LSBP) to 500 representatives from the pine landowning units.

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will hand out the Land Security Bonus Payments to the landowning units.

Group chief executive officer, Vimlesh Kumar, said previously practice allowed around 3000 members of the pine landowning units to attend the bonus payout annually.

He said: “Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, we have had to invite either one or two representatives from each landowning unit.

“We would have loved to have everyone here, but these restrictions are in place and we have to follow.”

Mr Kumar said the total amount of money to be distributed would be announced by Mr Bainimarama.

Today, Ratu Wiliame will be present at the ceremony as the new chairman of the Pine Group of Companies.

Ratu Wiliame replaced the late Faiz Khan, who passed away in June.

Mr Bainimarama is expected to hand over a new truck to the mataqali Tawa from Ra.

The truck was purchased under the new scheme where 30 per cent of the Land Security Bonus Payments amount is distributed equally to mataqali members through iTaukei Land Trust Board’s equal lease distribution mechanism.

The remaining 70 per cent of the Land Security Bonus Payments amount is directed towards mataqali based projects.

The group provides community based business development projects options for landowners such as housing, sanitation, bore holes, water pumps, boat, boat engines, generators and trucks.

Since 2013, landowners have received over $26 million in LSBP payouts, which included $661,835 (2015), $1 million (2014), $1.5 million for each year (2015 and 2016), $7 million for each year (2017, 2018, 2019).

Mr Kumar said landowners were surprised to receive some bonus this year as many thought the coronavirus pandemic would produce no returns.

The programme begins at midday.